New from
Browning Arms comes the redesigned Citori 725 Over/Under shotgun, designated as a 2012 model.
Far from just a cosmetic variation, the 725 is a completely redesigned Citori.
It is like no other Citori I've ever used before.

The
Browning Citori is the heir to John M. Browning's Superposed, the first commercially
successful vertical double. It was one of J.M.B.'s final designs, in fact work
on the Superposed was finished posthumously, the design brought to to
completion by son Val Browning. John Browning saw the double barreled shotgun as
the last firearm that tyrannical governments would seek to steal from their citizens.

John Browning, who died in 1926, never lived to see a
production Superposed. Superposed production began in 1931. Comparative
newcomers to modern O/U shotguns, like Beretta, didn't have any product until
the late 1940's, with the Silver Snipe appearing around 1955.

Eighty
years later, the Superposed (B-25) is still available from the Browning Custom
Shop. An upscale shotgun, it was released during the Great Depression, just a
couple of years after Black Tuesday. The Superposed, the “Aristocrat of
Shotguns,” wasn't exactly an overnight sensation. However, Browning persevered
and by the late 1950's and early 1960's, the Superposed was a solid success
story.

In 1973,
the B.C. Miroku manufactured Browning Citori was introduced and has gone on to
become the most popular O/U in history. The 1,000,000th Citori was sold on May
20, 2008. Over the last thirty-eight years, the Citori has been offered in
countless configurations and trim levels, but the basic action has been
unchanged, rooted in the Superposed design of 1925. That brings us to
present day, more or less.

The 725
carries on the classic look of the Superposed / Citori, but the action has been
redesigned. The 725 retains the basic Citori attributes of hard-chrome plated
chambers, the transverse mounted tapered locking lug, coil-spring powered
hammers and full width hinge pin. It also has the, by now, standard Browning
overbored barrels along with the latest Vector Pro forcing cones.

The
differences and improvements are considerable. The receiver has a lower
profile, suggesting less muzzle jump and a faster second shot. While I've owned
and used numerous Citori's over the years, they have been too heavy to be
pleasurable twelve gauge carry guns. Browning catalogs the previous Citori 625 Field 12 gauge
with 26 inch barrels as weighing 7 lbs., 12 oz. Most of my prior Citoris,
including a Citori Grade II 12 gauge custom model I hunted with for a few
years, were essentially eight pound guns. This new Citori 725 is much lighter, weighing
in at just over 7 lbs. with 26" barrels, shaving almost three-quarters of a pound off of
previous steel-receiver Citori incarnations.

Browning
has introduced a new single selective trigger in the 725, the mechanical “Fire
Lite” trigger. The trigger on the tested 725 field model breaks at four
pounds and change for both barrels, easily the best factory Citori trigger I've
ever used and very good for a field shotgun. The sporting version of the 725 is
rumored to have a somewhat lighter trigger. Barrel selection is via the tang mounted safety, in typical Browning pattern.

Another
innovation present in the Citori 725 is the new Invector DS choke system, the
DS meaning double seal. The unthreaded end of the choke tubes features a brass
alloy band that prevents any choke tube loosening and keeps the outer wall of
the choke tubes cleaner from blow-around. You can feel the additional
torque needed when you screw in these tubes.

The lower
barrel measures .738 in. via Skeets bore gauge, the upper barrel at .739. The
exit diameters of the Invector DS choke tubes were a bit puzzling. The IC tube
measures .739, the Mod .731, and the Full at .702 inch. Yes, you read that
correctly: the choke tube etched “Imp. Cylinder – Lead / Mod. Steel” has
essentially no constriction at all. At best, in the lower (slightly tighter)
barrel, you have .001 in., .007 in. and .036 in. constrictions, the “Full”
choke designated as a lead-only choke. Mis-marked factory choke tubes are a
common issue and unfortunately this Citori 725 did not come with a useable pair
of hunting chokes, a glaring oversight. As to what choke tubes are supposed to
be, refer to "Shotgun Chokes" on the Tables, Charts and Lists
page. Only the lead-only "Full" choke supplied comes anywhere close,
the Modified choke does not even offer Improved Cylinder constriction
parameters.

Browning
refers to the gloss oil finish walnut on the 725 as “Grade II / Grade III.” The
tested gun has nice wood, a well-figured buttstock and the forearm and
buttstock are nicely matched in color. A plain pistol grip is used instead of
the elegant Prince of Wales grip used on many previous Browning O/U guns. The
silver-nitrided receiver has tasteful game-scene engraving. The checkering is
cleanly and crisply done, with wrap-around checkering behind the tang.

Perhaps the only component that is a bit nontraditional is the latest Browning In-Flex
II recoil pad. While nicley rounded and properly fitted, it isn't flush with the stock like most pads, having a
proud ridge of elastomer where this black, non-vented pad meets the buttstock.
The recoil pad is the only visual area where technology is given a slight nod
over tradition.

I've
never considered a steel receiver Citori 12 gauge a particularly pleasant
shotgun to carry for wild pheasants, until now. The Citori 725 is smooth,
quick, responsive and faster than a speeding Illinois rooster. This gun fit me superbly.

It cried
out to be shot, so naturally I didn't delay. Although no shotgun is going to be
everyones' perfect all-around shotgun, the Citori 725 comes
about as close as possible. It is light enough to carry in pursuit of wild
pheasants and the recoil is easily controlled with the 1-1/4 oz. B&P MB
Long Range (1330 fps) shells I was using; certainly nothing that interfered
with a fast second shot.

Photo by Randy Wakeman.

Later, I
put a higher volume of B&P F2 Mach 1 oz. (1300 fps) loads through it. I found
the Citori 725 comfortable to shoot, surprisingly so for such a nimble,
responsive, seven pound and change stackbarrel. The new InFlex II pad does its
job quite well.

The
Citori 725 embodies all the reasons you might want an O/U in the first place:
trim forearm, crisp trigger, excellent balance and responsiveness. It is a gorgeous
shotgun, as well. It is light enough to carry, yet soft enough shooting to have
a blast on the dove field, or to have some fun on the skeet range.
The 2012 MSRP is $2469 on this model, while the street price seems to be around $2000.

I have no trouble saying that the
Citori 725 is the best Browning Citori ever, on the basis of the lighter
barrels, lighter weight, lower profile, an improved trigger system and overall
build quality: Yet, it retains the basic attributes that made the Citori the
most popular O/U shotgun ever. It is one of the most thoroughly satisfying O/U
shotguns I've ever reviewed.